Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer and conquistador born in 1475. He is best known for being the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. In 1513, he crossed the Isthmus of Panama and claimed the ocean for Spain, which significantly expanded European knowledge of the New World. Balboa's journey began in Hispaniola, where he initially settled before moving to Panama. His expeditions contributed to the Spanish exploration and colonization of the Americas, although he faced challenges, including conflicts with indigenous peoples and rival explorers. Balboa was executed in 1519, but his legacy as a pioneer remains significant.